Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Glycerol and Water over Nickel‐Hybrid Cadmium Sulfide Quantum Dots under Visible‐Light Irradiation. Issue 5 (1st April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jiu‐Ju; Li, Zhi‐Jun; Li, Xu‐Bing; Fan, Xiang‐Bing; Meng, Qing‐Yuan; Yu, Shan; Li, Cheng‐Bo; Li, Jia‐Xin; Tung, Chen‐Ho; Wu, Li‐Zhu
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 7:Issue 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 1468
• Page End: 1475
• Publication Date: 2014-04-01
• Subjects: Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201400028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Natural photosynthesis offers the concept of storing sunlight in chemical form as hydrogen (H₂), using biomass and water. Herein we describe a robust artificial photocatalyst, nickel‐hybrid CdS quantum dots (Ni_h‐CdS QDs) made in situ from nickel salts and CdS QDs stabilized by 3‐mercaptopropionic acid, for visible‐light‐driven H₂ evolution from glycerol and water. With visible light irradiation for 20 h, 403.2 μmol of H₂ was obtained with a high H₂ evolution rate of approximately 74.6 μmol h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ and a high turnover number of 38 405 compared to MPA‐CdS QDs (mercaptopropionic‐acid‐stabilized CdS quantum dots). Compared to CdTe QDs and CdSe QDs, the modified CdS QDs show the greatest affinity toward Ni²⁺ ions and the highest activity for H₂ evolution. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively‐coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP‐AES), and photophysical studies reveal the chemical nature of the Ni_h‐CdS QDs. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and terephthalate fluorescence measurements clearly demonstrate water splitting to generate <bold>⋅</bold>OH radicals. The detection of DMPO‐H and DMPO‐C radicals adduct in EPR also indicate that <bold>⋅</bold>H radicals and <bold>⋅</bold>C radicals are the active species in the catalytic cycle.</p> </abstract>